Video Taping Services Are Not Only Tremendously Profitable, But Timely, Asmore And More Demand Grows Within This Exploding Industry Every Day.Video Tape Is Rapidly Growing In Popularity Among Consumers Becauseas More And More People Add Video Cassette Players To Their Homeentertainment Systems, The Demand For Expertly Produced Videos Ofimportant Events In A Family's Life Is Skyrocketing. Weddings,baby Showers, Birthday Parties, Club Meetings, School Sports Eventsand Numerous Other Gatherings Provide The Perfect Opportunity Foryou To Enjoy A Fantastically Profitable Business While Enjoying Thecompany Of New Friends.Now Is The Ideal Time To Get Started With Your Own Video Tapingservice. The Purchase, Operation And Maintenance Of All Thenecessary Equipment Is Quite Easy. Advanced Features Built Intothe Equipment, Combined With Simple Operating Procedures Make Videocamera Operation A Snap. You Can Read Through A Video Instructionmanual, Spend Several Hours Experimenting With Various Lightingconditions And Techniques, And Develop The Ability To Produce Ahigh Quality Video Tape Of Almost Any Event.One- And Two-person Video Taping Services Around The Country Arereporting Substantial Gross Earnings. One Large Operation Welooked Into Reported An Income Figure Of 800,000 During Thepreceding 12-month Period. They Were Accepting Taping Jobs Fromall Quarters And Keeping Four Full-time Teams Busy. In Thebeginning, However, Success With This Kind Of Business Does Notrequire An Office Set Up Or Any Special Education Or Training. Youcan Start It On A Part-time Basis From Your Home And Parlay It Intoa Full-time, Profitable Profession. The Prestige This Businesswill Afford You Is Similar To That Of A Real Estate Broker. Youcan Begin Working Alone Or With A Partner. You'll Need A Minimumamount Of Equipment, But You Must Spend Time Developing Sales Leadsand Personally Contact Prospective Customers. Therefore, If Youplan To Begin As A Part-time Operation And Grow Into A Full-timebusiness, It Would Be Advisable To Have At Least One Other Personon The Team With You.The Successful Operation Of A Video Taping Service Is Found Throughmarketing Imagination, Organization, And Attention To Detail.Ideas And Requests For New Events To Tape And Preserve For Laterplayback And Viewing Develop Faster Than One Can List. There Are,however, So Many Things To Remember And Minor Details To Take Careof That The Only Way To Operate Successfully Is With A Series Ofchecklists. This Applies To Both The Person Selling The Service Aswell As The Man Or Woman Behind The Recording Camera.Don't Let The Numerous Details Scare You Off. On The Contrary,you'll Find Video Equipment Easy And Inexpensive To Work With,especially When Compared To Obtaining A Comparable Degree Ofexpertise With Film. You Can Use The Same Tape Over And Overagain. This Is Definitely Business Where The Phrase "practicemakes Perfect" Applies.To Begin Your Video Taping Service, You'll Need A Portable Videorecorder, Commonly Termed A "camcorder" (camera-recorder). If Youdon't Already Own Your Own Equipment, Now Is The Time To Buy.Prices Have Never Been Lower Nor The Selection Greater. Standardsize Camcorders Can Be Purchased For Well Under 1,000, Often Forhalf That Price. Because Technology Changes So Rapidly, You Canpick Up A High-quality Camcorder From Last Year's Stock, Or Perhapsslightly Used, For Under 500. And These Are Still Top-of-the-linecameras. Smaller, Palm-size Cameras Are Now Available, As Well Asadapters To Make Smaller Tapes Compatible With Most Home VCRs.Features And Options For Your Camera Will Abound, But You'll Wantto Make Sure Your Camera Has Some Of The More Important Ones, Suchas Input Jacks To Add External Microphones. This Will Aid Intaping Extended Vocal Recordings, Such As Speeches, Weddings,concerts, Etc. Your Dealer Can Help You Choose An Inexpensiveexternal Microphone To Augment The One That Is Already Built Intothe Camera. Other Important Features Include Auto-charactergeneration (for Adding Titles And Captions) And The Ability To Dubvocals Onto A Tape Without Harming The Original Picture Quality.Read Through Some Current Video Magazines Available On Thenewsstand To Get A General Idea Of The Features You Would Like.Make A List Of Those That Will Be A Necessity And Those That Are"wishes." Then Visit As Many Stores As Possible In Your Area Thatcarry Video Cameras. Get A Feel For Prices And Available Options.Then Make Your Selection. Note That Some Stores May Allow You Tolease A Camcorder, Thus Reducing Your Initial Cash Outlayrequirements.An Important Part Of Your Service Is The Blank Video Tapes That Youwill Purchase. While Standard VHS Tapes Can Be Purchased Quiteinexpensively, You Will Want To Make A Habit Of Using A Highquality Tape For The Best Results. Check Out The Latest Copy Of"CONSUMER REPORTS BUYING GUIDE" At Your Local Library. Determinewhat Their Best Recommendation Is Concerning Video Tapes. Talkwith The Video Salesman At Your Local Stores. You'll Soon Come Toknow What Brands Are Better And Which To Avoid. Find Out If Youcan Purchase Tapes Wholesale By Calling The Home Office Of Themanufacturer. Check Around In Your Area. Doing The Necessarystudy In Advance Will Save You Time And Money In The Future. Theseelementary Learning Steps Are Necessary As The Foundation Of Yourbusiness.Once You Have Your Video Recorder, Take It Home And Startpracticing With It. Think Of Yourself As Being On A Job For Ahomeowner Or An Insurance Company Taking A Photographic Inventoryof The House Andor The Occupant's Possessions. Practice By Makinga Tape Recording Of Your Own Household Furnishings. Make A Tape,then Play It Back And Critique Your Work. Then Repeat The Processagain And Again Until You Have A Tape You Can Use In Salespresentations To Homeowners And Insurance Companies. Video Taperecordings Of This Kind Are Becoming Extremely Popular For Use Ininsurance Claims Across The Country.The Possibilities For Selling Your Services To Those Who Would Likea Video Record Of Some Special Event Are Endless. Look Throughyour Weekend Newspaper And Make A List Of The Girls Announcingwedding Dates. Find Their Names And Telephone Numbers In Yourtelephone Directory And Call Them On The Phone. Ask Them If Theywould Mind If You Came To Their Wedding And Made A Video Tape Ofit, Without Any Obligation To Them, Of Course. Arrange To Be Atthe Wedding Location An Hour Beforehand To Get Your Equipmentsituated. The Secret Is To Get As Much Of The Wedding From A Goodangle As Possible Without Being Obtrusive. Setting Up Slightlybehind The Officiating Minister And Off To One Side Will Allow Youto Focus On The Faces Of The Wedding Party And Guests Withouthaving To Make Large Movements. The Zoom Feature Of Your Camerawill Allow You To Be Far Enough Out Of The Way So As Not Toobstruct The View Of Any Guests. With Your Camera Set Up On Atripod, Shoot The Wedding Ceremony. Afterward, Go To The Receptionand Take Candid Shots Of The Events--dancing, Singing, Cutting Thecake, The Departure Of The Couple, Etc. Use Your Imagination. Getas Many Of The Events As Possible But Without Interfering In Anyway. After The Event, Take The Tape Home And Review It. Keeppracticing At Weddings Until You Have A Tape You're Reasonablyproud Of, And Then Call The Bride. Ask To Come Over And Let Hersee The Tape. Explain To Her That You're Just Getting Started Inthe Business And You Simply Want Her Comments And Suggestions.Chances Are That When She Sees The Tape She'll Want To Buy It.While You're In The Learning Phase Of Your New Business, Visit Anapartment Building And Arrange With The Manager To Make A Videotape Of Her Showing The Apartment To You As A Potential Renter.Contact A Couple Of Property Management And Real Estate Firms Anddo The Same Thing With Condominiums And Houses For Sale. You Mightwant To Listen In On The Police Radio Frequency And Make Tapes Ofauto Accidents For Law Firms, Particularly Those Involvinginjuries. Consider Taping Golfers Practicing At The Local Drivingranges And Letting Them Review The Tape On Site To Improve Theirswing. Other Ideas Include Any Kind Of Sports Practice Sessions,birthday Parties, Special Anniversaries, Baptisms, Bar Mitsvahs,publicity Stories, Sales Presentations, And "fireside Chats" Bycompany Presidents Or General Manager. These Are Just A Few Ideasuggestions You Might Want To Pursue. You May Find A Certain Kindof Video Taping Assignment Especially Enjoyable And Want Tospecialize In That Area. Or, You May Want To Leave The Door Openfor Any Kind Of Assignment And Handle Each As The Opportunitypresents Itself. Whatever You Decide, There Are A Few "suresuccess" Points To Keep In Mind As You Begin To Sell Your Services.Virtually Everyone Likes To See Himself As A Star In A Home Video.Thus, When You Show A Client Of A Video Tape Of Himself In Thestarring Role, He'll Either Buy The Tape On The Spot Or Contractwith You To Make A Similar Tape Of Another Event. Modesty Aside,everyone Likes To Show Pictures Of Himself And Explain To Hisfriends The Different Highlights Of His Or Her Life. Thus, Whenyou Make A Sales Presentation Featuring Your Client, Your Salesrate Should Be Close To 100 Percent.The Best Way To Sell Your Services Is To Run A Regular Ad In Yourarea Newspapers. Consider Something Along These Lines:Smart Video Taping ServiceWhatever Your Idea Or Assignment,we Can Handle It For You! No Job Toolarge Or Too Small! We're Expertsat Taping Weddings, Anniversaries,birthday Parties, And Other Specialoccasions. Commercial Assignmentswelcomed. Your Satisfaction Isguaranteed, So Give Us A Call--123-4567, Right Now!When You Receive Calls In Response To Your Ad, Your Objectiveshould Be Two-fold. First, Find Out What Kind Of Taping Job Thecustomer Has In Mind. Second, Set Up An Appointment To Show Theman Example Of The Kinds Of Tapes You Can Produce. Present Theprospect With An Example Of Your Work.Never Meet With A Prospect In A Selling Situation Without Some Sortof Demonstration Tape For Him To Preview. Try To Match The Tapeyou Show Them As Closely To Their Wants And Needs As Possible.Don't Show Wedding Tapes You Have Made To Golfing Prospects Ordemonstrate A Tape Of Home Insurance Inventory For Prospectivewedding Clients. Once You've Met With The Prospect And Shown Theproper Demonstration Tape, You Should Have The Sale In Your Pocket.Besides An Ad In The Newspaper And Yellow Pages Of Your Telephonedirectory, Make Copies Of Your Ad And Get It Up On The Bulletinboards In Your Area. Send News And Publicity Releases To All Themedia In Your Region, Especially When You Have An Unusual Orspecial Assignment That Would Be Of Interest To The General Public,such As The Testing Of A New Invention By A Major Corporation Or Abirthday Party For A Centenarian. Have Some Impressive Businesscards Printed And Hand Them Out To As Many People As Possible, Asoften As You Can. The Slogan On Your Business Card Might Read:"You Name It, We'll Tape It."Radio And Television Ads Are Much More Expensive Than The Resultingjobs Will Sustain, So Be Very Cautious When Considering This Typeof Advertising. However, It Will Very Definitely Be Advantageousfor You To Pursue Guest Interviews On Any Kind Of Talk Show. Talkshow Appearances And Free Write-ups About Your Business In Yourlocal Newspapers Are Promotional Angles To Grab At Everyopportunity. Always Be On The Lookout For Promotional Ideas Andgimmicks That Will Result In Area-wide Publicity For Your Services.The Bottom Line Is Simple: Don't Be Adverse To Creating A Story Orset Of Circumstances If It Results In A Talk Show Appearance Ornewspaper Write-up For You.How Much Should You Charge For Your Services? Basically, The Goingrate In Most Large Metropolitan Areas Is About 75 Per Hour Youspend On The Assignment. Thus, You're Going To Have To Learn Toestimate Pretty Accurately Exactly How Long You'll Need To Spend Oneach Job To Produce A Quality Recording. Some Jobs, Like Weddings,might Go For A Standard Fee Of 150 To 300, Depending On Thecompetition In Your Area. It's Always A Good Idea To Check Outwhat Other Video Taping Services In Your City Or Comparably Sizedcities Are Charging. Newsletters And Trade Publications Servingthe Video Industry Often Feature Articles On Typical Rates Thatfree-lancers Charge. Check With Your Equipment Supplier For Thenames Or Sample Copies Of Any Newsletters About Which He Mightknow.You Can Form A Relationship With A Client That Can Last A Lifetime.Beginning With A Young Couples' Wedding, If You Follow Up On Eachsale Properly, You'll Probably End Up Making Tapes For Birthdays Oftheir Children, Youth Sporting Events, School Pageants Andgraduations, Anniversaries, Family Histories And Scores Of Otherevents.To Make Yourself A Success, You Will Need Imagination, An Affinityfor People And A Flair For Salesmanship. Imagination Is Important,because In Many Instances, You'll Have To Suggest An Idea Fortaping Services. Although Just About Everybody Would Like To Havea Taped Record Of Some Event Or Part Of Their Life To Pass Along Tofuture Family Members, Most Will Not Be Able To Decide What To Tapeuntil You Suggest Something To Them. You'll Also Find That Almostno One Is Aware Of Even Half Your Capabilities Until You Makesuggestions.Taking Pictures Of People Requires An Ability To Get Along Wellwith Them--to Get Them To Relax And Immediately Feel Comfortable Inyour Presence. You've Got To Be Persuasive While Exercising Agreat Deal Of Tact And Diplomacy. Learn To Make Friends Easily Andquickly. Be Aware And Understanding Of Wants, Desires Andambitions. Do Your Best To Instill A Feeling Of Confidence In Theprospect--confidence That You Are The Best Choice He Could Havemade, And Confidence That What They Are Doing Is Important Anddoesn't Look Silly Or Staged.Selling And Getting Along With People Are Almost Synonymous. Lifeis An Ongoing Program Of Selling Yourself To Achieve Your Own Wantsand Ambitions. Read A Few Good Books On The Art Of Selling, Suchas "How To Sell Yourself," By Steve Girard Or "How To Sell Anythingto Anybody" By Tom Hopkins. Remember, Selling Is Really Just Amatter Of Recognizing Someone's Needs And Then Satisfying Thoseneeds With A Product Or Service. Your Customers Will Automaticallyaccept As Fact That You Have The Professional Knowledge Andequipment To Fulfill Their Needs. All You Have To Do Is Reassurethem, Listen To Their Opinions On How Best To Meet Their Needs,and, In Closing The Sale, Become A Good Friend To Them.With The Simple Plan Outlined Above, You Can Get Started With Yourown Video Taping Service. By Combining Our Suggestions With A Bitof Energy And Persistence, You Should Be Able To Begin With Verylittle Start-up Investment And Quickly Begin To Reap The Fruits Ofyour Own Profitable Labor. Having Laid It All Out, The Rest Is Upto You. Your Future Is In Your Own Hands. Grab On To Your Futuretoday! -30-
